Tractor



C. KINNEY.

TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED on. 26. 1918.

1,360,957, I Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1- amen L 60 z I Charles Kinney a? W W C. KINNEY.

TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 26. 1918.

Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2- a Charles Kinney.

c. KINNEY.

TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 26. 1918.

Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

4 SHEET$SHEET 3- avwewtoz Charles Kinney.

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CHARLES KINNEY, OF ELIEIRA,

NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO LOUISE MAY OSTRANDER, OF ELI EZRA, NEW YORK.

TRACTOR.

Application filed October 26, 1918.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, CHARLES KINNEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elmira, Chemung county, and State of New York, have invented and discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Tractors, of which the following is a specification.

My said invention relates to tractors and more particularly to the machines of that class for farm use.

One object of the invention is to provide a machine which is capable of being driven across a field in either direction without the necessity of turning it. Another object is to provide a flexible connection in the center of the machine which will permit of its traveling over uneven ground without interfering with its operation. Still another object is to provide independent steering means foreach end of the device, both being controlled from aplatform approximately midway of the machine, and by the same operator. Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following disclosure.

Referring to the accompanying drawings on which similar reference characters indicate similar parts;

Figure l is a side elevation of a tractor constructed in accordance with my invention' Fig. 2, a plan view thereof with dotted lines showing the steering radius of the machine;

Fig. 3, a central longitudinal section on the line 33 of Fig. 2; A

Fig, 4, a vertical cross-section taken on the line Jr-4 of Fig. 3;

'Fig. 5, a detail perspective view of the clevis attachment;

Fig. 6, a detail showing the construction of seat support; and

Fig. 7 a detail section on dotted line 7-7 in Fig. 4:. p

In the drawings, in which like reference characters indicate similar parts in the several views, A represents the motor portion broadly, and B represents the trailer portion.

The portion A consists of a frame-work 10 0f rectangular form and composed of bar iron, or any appropriate material, of the form shown, or any, other form that may be found desirable. A motonll of any suitable type is mounted in said frame. A di f Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented N ov. 30, 1920. Serial No. 259,791.

ferential shaft 12 is mounted in suitable bearings on the frame-work and connected to be driven by said motor through any suitable means such as chains 60, or other appropriate gearing. Said shaft 12 has pinlons 61 on its ends which engage with internal teeth on gear rings 62 secured to the inner sides of the traction wheels 25, and thus provide for the driving of said wheels and the machine.

The frame-work 10 is pivoted on a kingbolt 13 which is supported at its upper end in a beam 14 and extends down through several parts ofthe frame and the axle 24. The beam 14 forms the upper part of a frame consisting ofsaid beam, a bar 63 and end blocks Gaand 65 through which a tie-bolt 15 extends by which the front ortion A is secured to the rear portion to provide a flexible or tilting connection between said partsof the machine, as will be presently described.

A platform 16 is mounted above beam 14 and supports the drivers seat 17, which is mounted on a' standard 18. Said standard is connected by pivot 66 to a bracket 67 mounted on said platform. Said standard 18 is provided with a central bearing pin 68 on itsupper end which is adapted to be inserted in a socket 69 secured to the underside of said seat. A lug or set-screw 70, the inner end of which engages with a circumferential groove in said pin holds the parts together while permitting the rotary movement of the seat. The hinge 66 also permits the seat to tilt from side to side so that it may be maintained in a horizontal relation when the machine is being driven along the side of a hill.

The portion A of the machine is steered by means of a steering column 19 having a steeringwheel 20 at its upper end and a drum 21 near its lower end. A pair of cables 22 are wound on said drum with one end of each attached thereto. Said cables are crossed and pass from the spool over idle pulleys 23 secured on the under-side of the frame-work of the machine and are se cured at their outer ends to opposite corners of said frame-work at its end toward the center of the machine. By this means, as will be obvious, when the hand-wheel 20 is turned in one direction one cable will be wound onto spool 21 and the machine directed in one direction, while the other cable will be unwound at an equal speed. The

between the upper partof the frame-work and a'rearwardly' extending bar"73,'which is connected to the frame of the rear part B by a pivot bolt 74, as will presently be described. Said plates 26 extend toward the center of the machine and have clownwardly-turned flanges to which is bolted a T-shaped bar 27 which extends in a vertical direction and it is rovided with a series of perforations 28. late 29' is mounted on said bar 27 and is adapted to be adjusted up or down according to the perforations 28 respective ends of said axle cured thereto which has a; pair of hooks 31 formed integral with thereof.

from the other end, before-described.

steering wheel 20.

which are employed to receive the securing bolts, Said plat/e29 has a cross-bar 30 sedependent the ends The frame of part B is also rectangular in form and is constructed similarly to frame ofpart' A. It carries a bolster 32 having mounted therein asking bolt 33 upon which is pivoted an axle 34 carrying a pair of idle supporting wheels This axle 34 is steered by means of a column 36 carrying at its lower end a drum 37 upon which iswound a pair of cables 38, the outer ends of'wl-iich are connected at points 75 near the and operate by turning column 36, in a manner similar to the operation of cables 22 in steering The upper end of the column 36 is provided with a worm-wheel 39 which is in mesh with the wvorm 4O fixed at one end ofthe shaft 41 42 on the frame B,

mounted in a bearing and being provided at its oppositeend with a steering wheel 43 which is located'adjacent the seat 17 directly opposite to the It will therefore be seen that when the operator desires to drive the machine a reverse directionit is only necessary to revolve the seat 17 by half revolution which will place him in a position to steer the machine by means of the opposite wh eehthe machine being thus guided by the member that is forward in respect to the direction of movement.

In the drawings 1 have shown a pair of ordinary plows as being operated by the machine although it is annarent that any implements such, for instan as harrows, planters or the like, may likewise be used.

In this instance plows 44'and-45 are mounted to be used alternately according to the The direction of travel of the machine.

plows 44 and 45 are independently connected to the machine proper by means of draft-rods 46 and 47. The rod 46 is secured to one of the hooks 31 of the beam 30, while the rod 47 is secured to a hook48 attached to the bolster 32. The other ends of said draft-rods are secured to the ends of the respective plan-beams as shown. As a means of keeping the plows in alinement, the rods 46 and 47 are passed through independent slots 49 and 50 in a plate 51 which is secured to and depends from a portion of the frame-work B. Brace-rods 52 and 53 prevent any displacement of the frame which carries the plate 51, being supported from the upper structure by hangers 82.

When the machine is driven with the motor portion leading, the plow 441s in operation and the plow 45 is raised outjof operation by means of a cable 54 secur d'thereto and passing over a series of pulleys 55 secured to the platform 16, thence passing around a drum 56 mounted upon the frame B Plow 44 is mounted for similargoperation by having secured thereto one end of a cable 57, passing around a pulley 58 thence to'a shaft 60 to which I Fixed to one'end of'the shaft 60 is a hand lever 61'by which the drums are rotated to alternately raise and lower the plows.

ln addition to the frame parts already described for connecting the sections A and B of the machine, other frame-work is provided projecting toward the center of the machine from the respective axles. It will be understood, of course, that this framework may be of any appropriate constructionand arrangement and that in the drawings l have only attempted to illustrate one suitable-form, V

In this'construction the beams 14,63, and 73, extend rearwardly from the portion A to a drum 59 keyed the drum 56 is secured.

of the machine, and beams 80, 81, 83 and 84' rigidity to support the operative parts carried thereby and provide means for attaching to said member A. The attachment between said two partsisprincipallyat the center and consists of the tie-rod 15 which extends through the cross-rods 64 and 65 of the frame composed of the beams 14 and 63, and also through crossrods 96 and 91 which are joined by bars 92and 93 under the central beam 80 of the rear frame. Another frame member 94 of snbstantialrectangular formation is secured. beneath the bar 93v by bolts 95 and 96 which pass through from the top of beam 80 through the bars 92, 93 and the upper and lower members of part '94. The lower end of bolt 95 also extends through the brace-rod 81, which ex tends rearwardly and is formed with an angle and connects at its rear end to the lower end of king-bolt 33. A brace 98 con nects member 97 with the clown-turned end of beam 80, the rear end of which is con nected beneath the upper end of said kingbolt 33. The forward end of member 94 is connected by the bolt 74 to the brace-rod 73 which connects with the forward kingbolt 13.

By this means the two parts of the machine are securely tiedtogether by the bolts 74 and 1 5 and at a point at the center of the machine in such a manner that the two sections A and B are not held rigidly, but

may be tilted and turned slightly one independent of the other so that in driving over rough ground or when one wheel is elevated as going over a knoll, or through a hollow, the plows or other tool connected with the machine will not be appreciably affected in its operation.

The plate 51, provided with the slots 49 and 50 through which the beams 46 and 47 extend, is mounted by means of a clamping bolt 100 so that it may be adjusted transversely of the machine as when draft-rod 46 is hooked to the other end of beam 30. The bolt 100 extends through a slot between cross-bars 101 and 102 and a washer 103, which permits the adjustment when desired, so as to position the front ends of the plan beams.

By this arrangement a machine is provided which may be operated in either direction; one which may be steered and manipulated by the operator from a single position on the machine and with his face positioned in the direction of the movement of the machine, and various other advantages secured, whereby the efliciency of the machine in operation is increased, and its value enhanced.

It will be understood that various changes may be made in the form, proportions and minor details of construction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing an of the advantages of the invention and do not, therefore, desire to be limited to the details as shown except as may be required by the claims.

' Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a tractor, the combination of a motor-driven element and a trailer, independent steering means for said element and trailer, and a swivel connection'between said element and trailer, substantially as set forth.

2. In a tractor, the combination of a motor-driven element and a trailer, independent steering means for said element and trailer, a swivel connection between said element and trailer, a frame around said swivel connection extending above and below a portion of said motor-driven element,

a platform mounted on the upper portion of said frame, and a drivers seat pivoted to bracket secured to said platform, substantially as set forth.

3. A tractor comprisinga motor-driven portion having an axle fixed therein and power-driven traction wheels loosely mount ed thereon, a trailer portion having an axle pivoted thereon and carrying idle traction wheels loosely mounted thereon, independent means for steering said motor-driven portion with its axle and the axle of said trailer portion, swivel means between said motordriven portion and said trailer portion to compensate for travel over uneven ground, a plate connected to bothof said portions having vertical slots and means for adjusting its position transversely of the tractor, said swivel means minimizing the transmission of rocking motions from the motordriven or trailer portions to the said plate and draft arms guided in the slots and having an end secured to the two portions respectively, substantially as set forth.

4. A farm tractor comprising two main sections each formed with a supporting frame-work, means for connecting said two sections to provide a flexible movement between them, a steering gear for each of said sections arranged to be operated from a single point, an operators seat located at said point and mounted to swivel, and a motor carried in one of said sections and geared thereto for driving said tractor, substantially as set forth.

5. In a tractor the combination with a motor section and a trailersection pivoted thereto for relative movements in independent horizontal planes, means to move the motor section relative to the trailer section for steering purposes, means to move the running gear of the trailer section for steering purposes, and-means to support an operator conveniently located to both steering means.

6. In a tractor the combination of a motor driven section and a trailer section articulated thereto, both sections being provided with supporting wheels, means to move the motor section relative to the trailer section for the purpose of steering, and means to move the wheels of the trailer section relative thereto for steering independently of the steering accomplished by the movement of the motor section.

7. In a tractor a motor section and a trailer section, each section being provided with supporting wheels, means articulating the sections by pivoting upon a vertical pivot, means to move the motor section relative to the trailer section for steering purposes, means to move the wheels of the trailer section independently of both sections for steering independently of the steering accomplished from the motor section,

and means for supporting the operator conveniently located relative to both steering means.

8. In a tractor a wheel supported motor section, a wheel supported section articuand positioned centrally and beneath the tractor having vertical slots wherein are mounted draft arms and means for adjusting the draft arms transversely to the tractor frame. a v l V 9. In a tractor the combination of a motor section, an independent section articulated tothe motor section, supporting wheels for both sections, means to steer each section independently of the other when moving in either direction, and, draft arms beneath the tractor secured to both sections and having free ends terminating approximately midway ofthe length of the tractor, said draft arms being adjustable transversely to the length of the tractor.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Elmira, New York, this Qatth day of October, A. D. nineteen hundred and eighteen. I V

CHARLES KINNEY. [Ls] \Vitnesses CHAs. N. HAMMOND, DEAN, P. BEoKwrrH. 

